Grandstand



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Patented Dec. 29, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GRANDSTANDV Charles Mackintosh, Los Angeles, Calif. Application October 21, 1949, Serial No. 122,683 14 Claims. (Cl. 2lb-1.126)

This invention relates to folding grandstands or bleachers, and preferably to stands of the type which comprise hinged or pivoted frames carrying seats and foot-boards and adapted to assume a sloping or inclined position when opened for use or occupancy, but capable of being folded together to vertical positions to occupy a minimum of floor space when collapsed.

The general object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved grandstand of the class described, which is composed of relatively few parts, and which is so constructed and arranged that the center of gravity of the stand when collapsed is not substantially higher than the center of gravity when opened, thus requiring less energy to collapse or stow the stand.

An important feature of the novel stand is the comparatively slight angle of slope when in position for occupancy. This is accomplished by either making the rear or upper section of the stand shorter than the front section, or-when the sections themselves are of substantially equal length-making the distance between the hinge point between the sections and the fulcrum point of the rear section shorter than the length of the forward secttion. In the latter case the fulcrum point is of course spaced inwardly from the rear end of the stand when the stand is opened.

The resulting lessening of the angle of slope has several advantages among which may be cited the more gradual ascent for occupants of the higher seats, more head room when ceilings are low, and the availability of the foot-boards for use as aisles, when the adjacent portions of the seat-boards are cut away, without adding steps between each foot-board.

Another novel feature of the invention is the locking means which retains the stand sections in open position, preventing collapsing of the Stand when in use, without the necessity of providing a vertical leg or prop at the junction of the two sections of the frame. Novel and convenient means for actuating the locl; are also provided.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a folding stand of this type a novel wheeled dolly for movably supporting the front section of the stand for movement to and from closed position, means being provided for rendering the dolly immobile .rlienever the stand is occupied. An important novel feature of the dollies is the improved tracking or limited castering provision for the wheels of 'the dolly.

fi further feature of the invention is the provision of novel resilient counter-balancing means for the sections which is particularly useful when the rear portions of the grandstand are not connected with a wall but supported by a dolly in a manner similar to the support of the front section.

Other objects and features of novelty will be apparent from the following specification when read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which certain embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a grandstand embodying the principles of the invention, this view showing the stand in opened position ready to be occupied;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the same stand with portions broken away for clarity of illustration of certain important parts;

Figure 3 is a view in side elevation of the same stand in collapsed or stowed condition;

Figure 4 is a View in side elevation in opened position of a grandstand illustrating a second embodiment of the invention;

Figure 5 is a similar view of the second embodiment in folded or collapsed condition;

Figure 6 is a View inside elevattion of a third embodiment of the invention opened for occunancy;

Figure '7 is a similar view of the same stand in collapsed position;

Figure 8 is a view in perspective of certain manipulative means for the locking device;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary view in side elevation and on an enlarged scale of a portion of one' of the grandstands showing in detail the novel locking mechanism;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section taken on line lll-l 0 of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary plan View showing the installation of a torsion rod for balancing the sections;

Figure l2 is a fragmentary enlarged detail View in side elevation of one of the dollies which support the stands;

Y Figure 13 is a somewhatl diagrammatic View in horizontal section takenon line Iiii3 of Figure l2, and showing the automatic tracking or casting means for the wheels of the dollies;

Figure 14 is a similar view showing the positions of the parts when the dolly is moving in the opposite direction;

Figure l5 is a view in side elevation of a still further modification of my grandstand;

Figure 16 is a somewhat diagrammatic view in side elevation of the grandstand of Figure l5, showing it in folded or collapsed position;

Figure i7 is a detail perspective view showing the manipulating linkages for unlatching the lock between the sections;

Figure 1S is a diagrammatic view showing the dolly body frame in position for supporting the dead load of the grandstand upon the wheels of the dolly;

Figure i9 is a view similar to Figure 18 but showing, in an exaggerated way, the iiexing of the dolly body under live load so that the padassumes the principal supporting function from the wheels; and

Figure 20 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the mid-section of a stand, showing a form of hinge applicable to any of the stands illustrated.

Although not strictly limited to such use, the

embodiments of the invention shown herein arev of the general type of indoor grandstand, and the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings is particularly adapted for in- 'stallation against the wall or a gymnasium or other auditorium or arena, the floor of which is indicated at lo and a wall at i2'. The grandstand itself is indicated generally by the reference numeral i5 and comprises the upper and lower' frame sections indicated at it and il respectively. The two sections are generally similar in construction and comprise rincipally the spaced parallel beams i3 which may be channel beams, -beams, or other suitable structural shapes. At intervals along each of the beams it there are disposed the vertical seat supporting posts i9 and the foot-board supporting horizon* tal strips 2e which abut the postsI i9 at right angles and extend rearwardly therefrom and are secured as by welding to the beams i8. The supports or posts le are generally 'shaped and include the upper cross members 2i upon which the seat-boards E2 themselves are secured. The foot-boards 23 extend from one side to the other of the stand section and rest. upon the strips 29. Preferably the arrangement and theA slope oi the stands are such that alternately occurring seatboards 22 and foot-boards 23 are in the saine horizontal plane. The lower or forward end of the channel beams lh of the front section is bevelled oil as at allv and an extension strip 25 juts forwardly from the end oi the beam and serves to support the foremost seat post i8. For additional strength the seat supporting posts i9 in the same transverse row may be connected by cross-braces such as the X-brace suggested in Figure 2.

Extending upwardly from points adjacent the rear end of the side frame members ld of the rear section are the short posts E?, the upper ends of these posts being pivotally connected as at l 2s to the horizontal brackets 2s which are secured to the wail l2 or, as in this instance, to the vertical frames 3c which rest upon the door and inay be secured to the wall. .le will be seen from Fioure l. of the drawings that the rear channel beams lea terminate at a point spaced -Irorri the wall l2 and that the thickness of the beam together with the length of the post 2l is approximately equal to the distance of the pivot point 2S iroin the wall l2.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 9 and 10 of the drawings as well as Figures 1 and 2, it will be seen that there is secured (as by welding) to the rear ends oi the channel beams iSl: of the front section, the upwardly extending sheet metal brackets 35. These brackets may well be of U-shaped section and each having at least one of its side flanges extending alongside the beam 58h and welded to the anges of the beam.

Secured at the forward ends of the rear beams im are the uprights or posts 33, preferably of double channel or I section, which incline upwardly into the space between the flanges of the U-shaped members Si, secured to iorward or lower beams leb. A short bracket 39 extends rearwardly from the end oi each post or up right 38 and is providedwith an op I Registering openings are formed in the eine all flanges of the member 35 and in the brackets 3-3 and through these openings there is passed a hinge rod'f 49 which may extend all the wav across the standiand servethe purpose ci hingnig the other side portions of the sections as well. or. abutment:oi theiorward and r and i3d is indicated at itc in e drawing'.

Somewhat forwardly oi the junction between the front and rear sections, there are provided posts i2 extending upwardly front-` the arns iSb upon each side of the forward Two wheeled dollies are provided for sup 'ting the stand and these dollies are indatn generally by the reference numeral 45. Each dolly has a pair of upwardly extending but rearwardly inclined struts l which straddle the beam i212 and are pivot/ally connected as at E with the upper end of the short post securef` to the beam. A brace member i9 extends in an inclined position upwardly from each oi the body plate portions 5o of the dolly, and wheels 5l are provided which are carried by the pairs or downwardly extending brackets 52. The two body plates 59 are preferably connected at their rear ends by the cross brace t3 which may conveniently be an angle iron welded to the plate sections. In some cases dollies may be used yith but one supporting strut dii.

A coil spring extends from a point cn the rear traine post Se to a point 5l.' on one oi the brackets Eil which support the foot-boards of the rear section and this frame serves to urge the grandstand section toward colla or folds-.i position.

Frein what has been described already, it will be readily understood that lifting the front end of the grandstand will effect the folding or collapsing of the stand. As the forward end moves upwardly around the dolly supported pivot point 4B, the rearward portion of the front section and the forward portion of the rear section move downwardly pivoting about the hinge rod lill. The rear section will swing downwardly to a posh tion against the wall l2, The forward section will swing about the pivot is until the rear end thereof passes between the divided body plate portion of the dolly iii and approaches a parallel position with respect to the rear section and the wall. At the same time the dolly moves rearwardly toward the wall, and the ultimate closed position of the stand is as clearly shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, ln this figure it will be seen how the. rear section nts snuglyagainst the Walle-the shape of the K-dolly interfitting with the forward section to occupy a minimum of space-and the retraction spring is substantially fully collapsed. Each of the seat-boards of the upper section nests against or in close proximity to the foot-boards of the lower section.

One of the important features of the invention resides in the dolly arrangement whereby the rollers 5| are spring mounted, this spring mounting being sufficiently strong to support the dead load of the stand during manipulation thereof,

but adapted to yield wheneverthe stand is occupied so that the body portion 50 is depressed toward the floor until the pad members 59 rests firmly upon the oor and serve to support the live load without any tendency for the dolly to roll. The details of the spring roller hubs are well known in the art and need not be described here. An alternate spring mounting for the dollies is illustrated in Figures 18 and 19 of the drawings and will be described presently.

Novel locking means are also provided for preventing the folding or collapsing of the stand under an unbalanced load during occupancy. Referring again more particularly to Figures 9 and 10 of the drawings it will be seen that a rearwardly extending lock bar E5 is secured (as by welding) Vto a ange of the forward .beam 13b and also to the side flange of the upright bracket member 35. When the stand is in extended position for use, the lool; bar extends snugly along the Upper surface of the lower flange of the rear beam ma, and the rearward end of the bar 65 is bevelled oi as at E6 so that it may clear this flange when the frames separate during the collapsing movement. The upper surface of the bar S5 is provided with a pair of notches El and 68 and a latch element l@ is provided to the post 38 of the rear section, as at E9, the forward end or nose of the latch element 'l being adapted to fall into the notch El in the lock bar and effectively prevent the relative rearward movement of the bar with respect to the rear frame and thus lock the frames in extended position. The notch E8 is in eiect a safety latch provision. The arrangement and construction' of the lock is such l that the parts are unstressed when only the dead load of the stand is considered and will not be put under stress unless the portion of the stand rearwardly of the dolly pivot is occupied.

Novel means for releasing the latch bar 'l0 from :l

the lock bar 65 are provided which are operable from the forward end of the stand. Asliding wedge element 15, extending behind the outer plate of the post 35, is adapted to rest upon the upper surface of the lock bar 65 and beneath the latch l0. The wedge is connected by means of the elongated rod 1S to a handle member l1. The handle and rod are pivotally connected as at Til and the handle member or lever 11 is fulcrumed' to the side frame as at 18. The operating rod 16 is urged toward forward latch-retracting position as by means of the spring S6, and it will be readily seen that by manipulation of the upper end of pivoted handle member 'il the rod 'lli may be pushed rearwardly so that the wedge 'l5 will dislodge the latch 'lil from engagement with the notch in the lock bar S5.

The locking arrangement is preferably duplicated upon the opposite side of the stand and the locks may be independently manipulated, each being suiciently strong to ensure the stand against collapsing. However, arrangement can readily be made whereby the locks may be released simultaneously, and one means for doing this is shown in Figure 8 of the drawings where the outer manipulative ends of the hand levers 1l are connected across the stand beneath the front foot-boards 23 by the bar 32. It will be readily seen that by pulling the bar 82forwardly, both of the wedges 'l5 may be forced beneath the latches 'lll and the locking devices disengaged.

An inspection of Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings will reveal one of the principal points of novelty of the present invention. One of the aims of the invention is to provide a stand having a gentle or gradual slope whereby the ordinary foot-boards alone may provide stairs or aisles which are easy to ascend. This requires that the rearmost end of the stand be of a height above the floor which is substantially shorter than one-half of the length of the stand. Thus the hinge 40 in the present example occurs at approximately one-third of the length of the stand from the rear end, and when the stand is folded against the wall the hinged portion is adjacent the oor, but the forward section il of the stand projects upwardly approximately twice the height of the rearward section, as clearly shown in Figure 3.

The point of support 48 of the forward section Il by the dolly 45 is so selected that the weight of the left-hand portion of the forward section il is approximately counter-balanced by the weight of the right-hand portion plus that portion of the weight of the rear section I6 which is not sus tained by the bracket 29, Any superiority of weight on the left-hand side of the fulcrum 58 is counterbalanced by the spring 55, `which assists the operator in lifting the forward end and moving the dolly and its supported parts rearwardly toward the wall l2. The approximately i shape of the dolly results in a compact folding or tele scoping of the part without any undue projection of the dolly beyond the general outlines of the folded stand.

In Figure 4 of the drawings there is illustrated a grandstand which is of the same general con struction as the stand l5 shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings. However, the rearward frame portion 86 of the stand is approximately equal in length to the forward portion 8l. The side frames 88a and 88h of the respective sections may conveniently comprise channel beams having their flanges turned inwardly toward each other. The seat-boards 22 and foot-boards 23 with their supporting elements I9 and 20 are substantially the same as in the previously described embodn ment. The hinging of the two sections 3G and 8'? is quite similar to the arrangement shown in the first described embodiment and particularly as illustrated in detail in Figures 9 and 10, the upn right sheet metal bracket element 9d being secured to the rearward end of each forward side bar Stb and the corresponding post or bracket 9| secured rigidly' to the forward end of each rear side beam 38a.. The upper portions oi the 'crackets 96 and 9| are hingedly connected by means of a pin or bar 92 as in the embodiment previm ously described.

A pair of frame posts Q5 are disposed against the Wall l2 and the upper rear portion of the stand is pivoted to the upper ends of these posts b-y means of the swinging levers 95, each having one end pivoted as at 9i to the upper end or" the adjacent post Q5 and pivoted as at 98 at a point spaced from the rear end of each side bar 83h. A dolly lill), which may be of any suitable type, is pivotally connected as at liti to each of the ier`M vward vside frame members 83a at a point for wardly of the hinges between the front and rear sections of the stand.

In this embodiment the hinge point is adjacent the center of the stand, the sections 8E Si being of substantially equal length. Therefore, in order to maintain the upper rear end vof the stand at as low a point as possible, the height being less than the length of the rear section ci the stand, the swinging pivot member 5G functions to permit an upward swinging of the rear portion of the stand around the center vi at the same time that the two sections 36 and Si?. are

buck-ling or foldingabout thehinge orpintle S2. Thus the forward end of the stand rises when lifted by the operator, the hinge point 92 lowers and at the same time the rear portion of the stand swings upwardly about the center il? until the stand occupies the position shownin Figure 5 of the drawings, with the lower end ofr the rear section, St resting upon the floor adjacent the wall i2 and the dolly supporting the forward section di with the seat and floor portion being internested, all as clearly shown in Figure 5. Also, the distance eli-ES should equal the distance tt-il'i.

To aid in collapsing the stand 85, a coil spring |02 functions in the same manner as the spring 55 of the first embodiment. Due to the somewhat flexible swinging rearward support of the stand in4 this embodiment, a bracing structure isV employed for supporting the rear section t5 when the stand is opened for use. Two or more brace bars or rods |85 are provided, the lower ends oi these bars being pivoted as at it adjacent the feet of the bach frame members S5 and having their upper ends pivotally connected as at itl to the side bars Stb of the rear stand section t5. The length of the strut or brace it is equal to the length of the frame member te between the pivot points thereon. Obviously the length of the bars or struts it also must be equal to distance from the forward hinged end of the rear section of the frame from the pivot point lill so that when folded, the hinged end will substantially coincide with the lower pivoted end itt of the bracing strut 35. Thus the strut 35 not only sup-ports a substantial portion of the weight of the stand but operates to guide the stand toward folded position, in conjunction with the swinging lever 9S.

Additional supporting means for the stand are provided in this embodiment and these comprise the rigid` legs H having feet ill resting upon the floor l, the legs having their upper ends pivoted to the forward portions of the rear side frame beams 83a as at |12. In association with each leg, a toggle device comprising the linkages H and |15, extends between the pivot point H on the rear section of the stand and the point I adjacent the lower end of the strut H35. The two linkages are pivotally connected at their adjacent ends as at HS. A link H extends between the pivot H8 and a point H3 on the leg lili-just below the upper end thereof. It will be readily seen from an inspection of Figure a that when the toggles l and il are broken upwardly, the leg HG will swing rearwardly and the whole, device will fold together as the sta-nd is collapsed. Thus the toggle arrangements not only provide convenient means for folding the supporting legs i it but when extended provide sturdy supporting truss structures in connection with the struts |95, and thus the weight and size of the side beams Btc and Stb of the stand can ce reduced somewhat.

It is obviousthat the hinge locking means illustrated in Figures 9 and 10 of the drawings may be applied to the embodiment shown in Figures 4 and 5 if desired. However, when the bracing structures |95 and H are used, the lock may be omitted.

It will be observed that the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 4 and 5 is also constructed and arranged to provide a stand of gradual slope but which is readily foldable against a supporting wall, this being ensured by the distance between the hinge 92 and the rea-r pivotal support 98 being maintained equal to the desired height of therear end of the stand, regardless of the relative lengths of the two sections.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 6 and '7 of the drawings is designated generally by the reference numeral and comprises the rearward and the forward sections |2| and |22 and is supported by the pairs of wheeled dollies |25 and |26, and thus the stand need not be disposed adjacent to or pivotally connected to a wall such as the wall I2.

In this modification the rearward and forward side frames or beams |28a and |2819 may be similar to the ones shown in the earlier embodiments and they are arranged to support the usual seatboards 22 and foot-boards 23 with their supporting brackets I9 and2. At the rear end of each of the forward side beams |28b there are disposed the hollow sheet metal posts |3li, and the coopeiating4 posts or` struts |3| secured to the forward ends of the rear beams |2341 are hingedly connected to the posts |30 by means of the torsion bar |35. A locking device indicated generally by the reference numeral |40 may be employed in this embodiment, this device being exactly the same as the one illustrated in Figures 9 and 10 and described in connection with the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures l, 2 and 3.

Instead of using a coil spring such as shown at 55 or |82 in the earlier described embodiments, the torsion rod is provided which is adapted to exert a spring pressure urging the stand sections toward closed position and thus aiding in the manual collapsing of the stand by counterbalancing the sections. The installation of the torsion rod |35 will be readily understood from an inspection of Figure 1l of the drawings. Registering openings are provided in the side flanges of the strut |30 secured to the forward section and the upper end of the strut |31 secured to the rearward section. The rod |35V is passed through these openings and rigidly secured to the strut or post |3| of the rear section, as by welding. However, the rod is free to turn within the openings in the forward section post |38. At the center of the rod |35 about half way across the stand unit, the rod is xedly secured as by welding to a clip or bracket |45, which is bolted or otherwise secured to the adjacent portion of the seat-board 22. Thus, the center of the rod is rigidly xed against rotation with respect to the forward section of the stand, and the end portions of the rod are xedly secured to the rear portion of the stand. This preliminary fixing of the rod portions is accomplished with the stand in collapsed position. Therefore, when the stand is opened up the hinging of the sections twists the rod and places it under rotary tension which resiliently resists the opening movement. The locks upon each side of the stand effectively prevent collapsing of the stand when they are in latched condition.

It will beV readily apparent from the above that the torsion rod feature is a generic conception and is applicable to any and all of the embodiments of the grandstand illustrated and described in thepresent specification. All that is necessary to embody this feature in the other examples illustrated, is to secure the ends and the midportions of the hinge or pintle rods d0, S2, 2M] or 340, to one or the other of the forward or rear sections ofthe respective stands as illustrated in the generic diagram comprising Figure 1l.

Each of the rearward dollies |26 in the embodiment shown in Figures 6 and 7 comprises essentially an upright post |56 extending upwardly from one end of the dolly carriage which is supported by the wheels |52. The upper end of the post |50 is provided with a rigid horizontal bar |55 which is pivotally connected as at |56 with the end of a horizontal bracket |51 xed to the rear frame |2| of the stand. When being folded, the rear section pivots about the points |56 and assumes the position shown in Figure 7, the lower end of the rear section |2| disposed adjacent or resting upon the dolly frame |5|.

The forward dollies |25 may be of the same type as the dollies 45 shown in FigureV 1 of the drawings and are substantially K-shaped in elevation so as to intert neatly with the folded forward section of the frame of the stand.

Another important feature of the-dollies 55 and 25 will now be described, in connection with Figures l2, 13 and le of the drawings. Each of the wheels 5| is supported by a downwardly eX- tending inverted U-shaped bracket 52, the bight of which is rigidly secured to the underside of a small plate |55 which underlies the end portions of the parallel body plates 5G of the truck or dolly. The wheel plates |60 are movably secured to the frame 5@ by means of bolts lei which pass snugly through the usual circular openings in the plates |55 but through somewhat enlar-ged triangular openings |52 in the frame plates 55. Nuts |53 are applied to the lower ends of the bolts, screwed up almost to the plates 69 and then secured against rotation thereon. The triangular openings '|52 are arranged as shown in Figures 13 and 14 of the drawings with the apeXes of the forward and rear openings for each wheel facing toward each other and the bases of the triangulars facing outwardly. It will be seen that the plates |65 to which are attached the wheels 5| have a limited movement with respect to the frame plates 55, and in order to facilitate this movement a layer of graphite, other lubricant, or antifriction means may be disposed between the contacting surfaces of the plates |55 and the frame plates 50.

When the dolly is travelling in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 13 of the drawings, the two lbolts |61 at each of the forward portions of the plates |55 move rearwardly into the apexes of these triangles and the rearward pair of bolts moves rearwardly toward the bases of the rearward triangles. The rear bolts are then in a position to move laterally if necessary in permitting the wheels to caster somewhat so that they will track properly and not sind or scuri during this movement of the dolly. This is of particular advantage when the grandstand is installed in a gymnasium having polished and highly finished oors.

Similarly, during the opposite movement as indicated by the arrow in Figure 14, the bolts which were adjacent the bases of the triangles now move toward the apexesrbeing the leading bolts in this direction of movement, and the former leading bolts become the trailing bolts and are disposed adjacent the bases of their triangular openings. Thus the wheels 5| will track without skidding or scumng upon the floor surface in either direction of movement.

The embodiment illustrated in Figures 15 and 16 of the drawings is one in which there are relatively few rows of seats and in which the pivot points of the sections are disposed fairly close to the beams, and one of the principal features of this embodiment is the provision whereby the stand is urged from folded position by the same spring which facilitates its movement from l0 its extended position. Also, certain alternative means for unlatching the sections are provided, which means are obviously applicable to any of the embodiments of the invention.

In this embodiment the grandstand as a while is given the reference numeral 215 and comprises the upper section 2|@ and the lower section 2li. The upper section 2|G comprises the side beams 2i8a and Zlb respectively. Seatboards 222 and foot-boards 2id with their supports and braces 2id and 22d are substantially the same as in the previously described embodiments, with the exception that the foremost seat-board 222er is supported at the top of a pair of inclined brace members or standards Elsa. This affords a forwardly projecting seat arrangement beneath which a barile board 235 may be secured. This board may be made of metal, plywood, or any other suitable material and furnishes means against whichbasket balls may bounce and not become wedged under the stand.

The forward side beams 2 |819 are provided with the upwardly projecting strut-like frames 235 and the rear beams 225er are similarly provided with the struts 238, these adjacent pairs of strut members being pvoted as in the other embodiments at the points 213|). 1n this embodiment the pivot point is relatively close to the beam and the balancing of the center of gravity of the stand need not be as accurate as in the other embodiments. 'l'herei'ora in order to overcome any unbalance which may prevail at the start of the movement of the stand from extended or from folded positions, the spring 255 is installed in a somewhat dinerent way. The wall bracket 235 from which the short horizontal strut 225 extends to provide the pivot point Edil of the rear section of the stand, is also provided with a lower` horizontal extension 281| which is provided adjacent its outer end with a point of connection 286 for the lower end of the spring 255, the upper end of the spring being connected at 251 with the rear section of the stand. It will be obvious how this spring aids the collapsing of the stand from the position shown in Figure 15 and it will be equally apparent from an inspection of Figure 16 how the spring is also extended and under tension between the points 28S and 25'! when in folded position, the beam 2 aSa of the upper section having swung past dead center at the veru tical plane of the point 288.

The grandstand shown in Figures 15 and 16 is provided with the same sort of locking device as in the other-embodiments, which device includes the notched lock bars 255 projecting from the rear ends of the forward beams 25th on each side or' the stand, and the latch bars or links 2id which engage therewith. The unlatching wedges 2'i5 are actuated by the rods 215 which extend alongside of the beams lSb and are pivotally secured as at 215 to the swinging bars 2li. These bars are fixed upon the ends of a fulcrum rod or shaft 215 which extends across the stand between the beams and is rockably mounted in openings therein. To the other ends of the bars 2li' there are pivotally secured the handle rods 285, which rods extend through openings di made in the plywood guard-board 285 so as to be accessible to an operator standing in front of the grandstand. The fulcrum rod or shaft 215 being rigidly secured to the pivoted bars Ell, the latches on both sides of the stand may be actuated by manipulation of either one of the handle rods 28B. This arrangement, illustrated generically in Figure 17, is very obviously applicable to any of sesame the examples of the invention illustrated and described herein.

The dollies 245 which are illustrated in connection with the stand shown in Figures 16 and 17 are so constructed as to eliminate the necessity of providing spring wheels, and these dollies, illustrated in diagram in Figures 18 and 19 may obviously be employed in connection with any of the other embodiments. The forward section of the stand is supported upon the dollies by means of one or more vertical struts 246 which are pivoted to the stand as at 248. The strut 24S is rigidly secured to the body portion of the dolly.

The body plate 250 of the dollywhich may or may not be split for the accommodation of the side beam, depending upon the need for clearance space-is made of resilient metal and the degree of resiliency is calculated so that under the dead load of the empty stand the parts assume the position shown in Figure 18 wherein the wheels 251 (attached to the dolly by means of the brackets 252) support the stand for movement to and from folded position, the pad block 260 being elevated slightly above the iioor i6. Upon sustaining any additional load, as when an occupant mounts the stand, the plate 25e will be flexed, as shown in somewhat exaggerated degree in Figure 19, so that the supporting pad or block 260 descends and rests upon the iioor l0, thus sustaining the live load in more solid and sta- A tionary position than aorded by the wheels 25|. In all cases, the pads or blocks 6i) and 260 may either be separately associated with the individual dollies or preferably comprise single elongated timbers extending all the way across the stand as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings.

Although the exemplary embodiments illustrated herein show two foldable sections for each grandstand, the invention in its broadest aspects contemplates the provision of more than two sections where needed, for example, in stands having more than twenty rows. Such stands may be divided into four foldable sections, the first pair of sections and the last pair of sections being constructed in general accordance with the claims herein which describe two folding grandstand sections.

In Figure 20 there is illustrated a modified form of hinge which, of course, is a universal feature of the present invention and may be incorporated in any of the embodiments which are illustrated herein as examples of the execution or reduction to practice of the invention. In this figure the features or elements which are common to the first described embodiment are given similar reference characters but with 300 added to them. Thus the stand as a whole is indicated at 3 I 5, the upper section at 3 l B and the lower section at 3H. The upper portions of the side beams are designated 318e and the lower'side beam sections by the numeral 3 I-8b. The seat-boards are shown at 322 and are mounted upon the vertical seat posts 319, from which the horizontal struts 320 extend back to the beam surface, and these struts serve to support the foot-boards 323.

The hinge feature differs from the other illustrated embodiments in that the Vertical boxlike strut 335 extends upwardly from the forward beams 3l8b for only about half ythe height of the adjacent seat post 3I9. Furthermore, the

.seat post Sie adjacent the hinge is carried by the rear section 3 I6 from which the hinge strut 338 extends and these struts are pivoted at a point 340 which is approximately half the height of the seat post. The box strut '335 is of angular conguration, lthe lower portion YY33t' being ap proximately vertical when the stand is extended and 4theupper portion of the strut extending vat a slight angle to the right or toward the forward edge of the stand. It is noted that in this embodiment the seat post immediately adjacent the hinge is carried by the upper part of the stand and when the stand is folded this post virtually revolves about 'the pivot or pintle point 340 so that the seat 322 carried by the post swings around the pivot point and comes to rest upside down adjacent the foot-board 323 which is closest to the strut 335. This arrangement disposes the hinge parts somewhat further away from the adjacent seat and oifers less interference with the passage of occupants of the stand.

Various changes and modifications may be made in the embodiments of the invention illustrated and described herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A folding grandstand comprising, in combination, a supporting frame comprising two hinged sections and adapted when opened for use to occupy a plane of gradual inclination to the horizontal with the lower forward end ci the stand resting adjacent the ground surface, each of the frame sections being made up of spaced parallel side beams, vertical seat posts secured at spaced intervals along said side beams, and horizontal bars extending from points on said side beams above and rearwardly of the seat posts and abutting the latter substantially at right angles, the ends of said bars being secured respectively to the side beams and seat posts, traversely extending seat-boards secured to and resting upon the upper ends of the seat posts and transverse foot-boards alternating with the seat-boards and secured to and resting upon saidL horizontal bars, the hinge axis of the frame occurring adjacent a pair of opposite seat posts, a pair of struts extending upwardly from the side beams at the rearward end of the forward section and a pair of struts extending upwardly from the forward end of the rearward section, a pintle rod connecting the upper ends of all of said struts, said rod passing freely through openings in the pairs of struts of one of the frame sections, means rigidly connecting said rod to the struts of the other frame section, and means rigidly connecting the center of said rod to the one frame section, whereby the rod acts as a torsion bar resillently balancing the two sections during the folding and unfolding operations.

2. A foiding grandstand comprising, in combination, a supporting frame comprising two hinged sections and adapted when opened for use to occupy a pane of gradual inclination to the horizontal with the lower forward end of the stand resting adjacent the ground surface, a pintle rod extending transversely from one side of the frame to the other and hinging the sections together, said pintle rod being fixed securely against rotation with respect to one section at one point on its length and to the other section at a spaced point therealong, whereby the rod acts as a torsion bar resiliently balancing the two sections during the folding and unfolding operations.

3. A folding grandstandcomprising in combination, a supporting `frame comprising 'two hinged sections and adapted when opened for use to occupy a plane of gradual inclination to the horizontal with the lower forward end of the stand resting adjacent the ground surface and its upper end adjacent a xed vertical support, such as a wall, pivotal bracing struts extending from the foot of said wall to points of pivotal attachment on each side of the rear section of the stand spaced :forwardly from the upper rear end thereof, the lengths of said struts being equal to the height of the wall to the line where the plane of the stand intersects said wall and also equal to the distance from the points of pivotal attachment of the struts and frame to the hinge axis of the two sections of the frame, and links lying in the plane of the stand when opened, each having one end pivotally secured to the wall at the line of intersection of the plane of the stand and the wall and the other end pivotally secured to the rear section at a point half-way from said line of intersection to the points of pivotal attachment of the bracing struts, whereby when collapsed against the wall the forward end of the rearward frame section will rest approximately upon the ground surface, and the links and the struts will be aligned against the wall surface.

4. A folding grandstand comprising, in cornbination, a supporting frame comprising two hinged sections and adapted when opened for use to occupy a plane of gradual inclination to the horizontal with the lower forward end of the stand resting adjacent the ground surface and its upper end adjacent a fixed vertical support, such as a wall; means pivotally connecting the rearward end portion of the upper section of the stand to an adjacent upper point on said fixed vertical support; a fixed projection extending from the lower end of said fixed vertical support to a point forwardly of the vertical plane of the support; means guiding the forward section of the stand toward a position parallel with said rearward section and both sections toward positions parallel with said Xed verticalsupport; a retractile spring having one end connected with the forward end of said lower xed projection and the othery end connected to a point on the upper stand section normally occupying a verticai plane forward of the fixed point of attachment of the first named end of said spring but r adapted to occupy a vertical plane, when the stand is collapsed against the vertical support, which is rearwardly of said xed point; whereby said spring acts to facilitate the initial movement of the stand sections to and from collapsed position.

5. A folding grandstand comprising, in combination, a supporting frame comprising two hinged sections and adapted when opened for use to occupy a plane of gradual inclination to the horizontal with the lower forward end of the stand resting adjacent the ground surface, a hinge pintle disposed at a point spaced above the medial plane of the frame at least as far asthe upper surface of the frame, whereby the two adjacent ends of the frame sections abut when the stand is opened out for occupancy, and automatically and positively engaging locking means at said abutting ends spaced downwardly from said hinge pintle for directly locking the sections to gether in said opened position independently of any supporting connections and preventing the collapsing of the stand by lifting the forward end thereof.

6. A folding grandstand comprising, in com- 41'4 bination, a supporting frame comprising two hinged sections and adapted when opened for use to occupy a plane of gradual inclination to the horizontal with the lower forward end of the stand resting adjacent the ground surface, a hinge pintle disposed at a point spaced above the medial plane of the frame, whereby the two adjacent ends of the frame sections abut when the stand is opened out for occupancy, means at said abutting ends spaced downwardly from said hinge pintle for locking the sections together in said opened position, and actuating mechanism operatively connected with said locking means, said actuating mechanism being carried by said stand and movable relative thereto, said actuating mechanism being accessible from the forward lower end of the stand for releasing said locking means.

7. A folding grandstand comprising, in combination, a supporting frame comprising two hinged sections and adapted when opened for use to occupy a plane of gradual inclination to the horizontal with the lower forward end of the stand resting adjacent the ground surface, means hingedly connecting the rear end of said forward section and the forward end of said rear section, the pivot axis of said means being lo cated at least as far upwardly as the upper margin of said supporting frame sections whereby the respective sections are adapted to abut end to end when the stand is opened, a notched bar extending from the end of one section and overlapping the adjacent end of the other section, a

latch bar pivoted on said other section and adapted to engage said notched bar to hold the section ends in abutting positions, and remote controlled means operatively connected with said latch bar for unlatching said latch bar when it is desired to collapse the stand.

8. A folding grandstand comprising, in combination, a supporting frame comprising two hinged sections and adapted when opened for use to occupy a plane of gradual inclination to the horizontal with the lower forward end of the stand resting adjacent the ground surface, means hingedly connecting the rear end of said forward section and the forward end of said rear section, the pivot axis of said means being located at least as far upwardly as the upper margin of said supporting frame sections whereby the respective sections are adapted to abut end to end when the stand is opened, a notched bar extending from the end of one section and overlapping the adjacent end of the other` section, a latch bar pivoted on said othersection and adapted to engage said notched bar to hold the section ends in abutting positions, and a wedge element for wedging apart said pivoted latch bar and said notched bar, a manipulating lever supported at the forward end of the forward section for actuating `said latch, and a connecting rod extending from said lever along the frame to said latch.

9. The arrangement set forth in claim 8 in which the latching means is duplicated on the opposite sides of the stand, spring retracting means are provided for biasing the wedge element toward retracted position, and a transversely extending manipulating bar is provided for connecting the ends of the levers on each side at the forward end of the stand.

10. The arrangement set forth in claim 8 in -which the latching means is duplicated on the opposite sides of the stand and each connecting rod is pivotally connected at its forward end with one end of a double-ended crank bar which is 1 "15 xed toa rock shaft which extends across the width of the stand and is rotatably carried by the forward section thereof, a pull link extending from the opposite end of each crank bar and having a manipulating end disposed at the forward end of the stand.

l1. In a folding grandstand of the class described, in combination, a supporting frame comprising two hinged sections adapted when the stand is opened to be aligned in an inclined plane, and when closed to occupy'parallel spaced vertical planes with the hinged ends of the two sections downward, a wheeled dolly for supporting a portion of the weight of the stand and facilitating the moving of the sections together'to folded position, a slightly rearwardly inclined post eX- tending upwardly from the forward end of said dolly and means permanently pivotally connecting the upper end of said 'post `to the forward stand section, the point of pivotal connection being positioned upwardly at least as far as the upper edge of the section, the distance between the pivotal point and the hinged rear end of the forward section of the stand being approximately equal to the vertical height of thepost, whereby said end of the section may-rest upon the dolly when in collapsed position, and the amount-of rearward inclination of the dolly post being substantially equal to the distance of the point of pivotal support above the lower edge of the section, whereby when the stand is folded thefbottom of the forward stand section is substantially flush with the forward end of the dolly and no significant portion ofthe dolly projects beyond the confines of the folded stand.

l2. In a folding grandstand of -the class .desoribed, a supporting frame comprising two hinged forward and rear sections adapted to be collapsed from an opened aligned inclined planar position to a closed position in which they are substantially vertical and parallel, a wheeled dolly for supporting at leastv a portion of the weight of the stand during movement to and from collapsed position, wheels supporting said dolly, spring inountings for said wheels and a base pad rigid with said dolly, said spring mountings being of sucent resistance to support the dead weight of the stand but adapted to be resiliently yieldaole under any additional superimposed weight, whereupon said pad comes into contact with the ground and supports the load, said dolly comprising a fore-and-aft body frame with wheels at each end and the base pad beneath an intermediate portion of the body frame, and means applying the sustained weight of the stand to the body ofthe dolly between the wheels thereof, said spring mounting of the wheels being afforded by Virtue of the body frame itself being flexible in a vertical direction.

i3. A folding grandstand comprising, in combination, a supporting frame comprising two hinged sections and adapted when opened for use to occupy a plane of gradual inclination to the horizontal with the lower forward end of the stand resting adjacent the ground surface and its upper end adjacent a fixed vertical support such as a wall, each of the frame sections being made up of spaced parallel side beams, vertical "i6 seat posts ksecured at spaced intervals along said side beams, and horizontal bars extending from points on said side beams above and rearwardly of the seat posts and abutting the latter substantially at right angles, the ends of said bars being secured respectively to the side beams and seat posts, transversely extending seat-boards secured to and resting upon the upper ends of the seat posts and transverse foot-boards alternating with the seat-boards and secured to and resting upon said horizontal bars, the hinge axis of the frame occurring adjacent a pair of opposite seat posts, a pair of struts extending upwardly from the side beams at the rearward end of the forward sec tion and a pair of struts extending upwardly from the forward end of the rearward section, a pintle rod connecting the upper ends of all :of said struts, said rod passing freely through openings in the pairs ofstruts of .one of the frame seotions, means rigidly connecting said rod to .the struts of the other fra-nie section, means rigidly connecting the center of said rod to the one frame section, whereby the rod acts as a torsion bar resliently balancing the twosections during the folding and unfolding operations, resilient means between the rearward section of the stand and said xed vertical support for supplying some additional urge to thestand toward one of its directions of-rnoveinent, and a wheeled support to which the forward section or" the stand is pivotaliy secured and whichmovably supports the weight of the forward section and a portion of the weight of said rearward section during folding and unfolding movements of the stand.

le. in a folding grandstand of the class described, a supporting frame comprising two hinged forward and rear sections adapted to be collapsed from an opened aligned inclined planar position to a closed position in which they are substantially vertical and parallel, a wheeled dolly for supporting at least a portion of the weight of the stand during movement to and from collapsed position, said dolly comprising a fore-andaft body frame with wheels at each end and a ground-contacting base pad secured beneath 'an intermediate portion of the body frame, means connecting a portion of said stand to the dolly to apply the weight of said portion of the stand to the body of the dolly between the wheels thereof, said dolly body frame itself being resiliently flexible in a vertical direction to such a degree that it will support the dead weight of the stand without substantial downward bending but will resiliently yield under any additional superimposed weight, as of occupants of the stand, whereupon said pad comes in contact with the ground and safely supports the load.

CHARLES MACKINTOSH.

' References Cited in the file of this patent UNTED STATES PATENTS Uecker et al. Sept. 8, 1942 

